I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.

I just tried to listen to Joseph Moog play the first book, and though it's clearly fabulous pianism, I felt it didn't have the magic of Ferber. Somehow Moog seemed reductive, reducing the music to thrills about speed and piano technique. Ferber makes them sound to me like some of Debussy's best poetry.

Here, if you don't know it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_bU7nlX2c&ab_channel=OnTheTopofDamavandforever

Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 17:59:01 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
>
> I just tried to listen to Joseph Moog play the first book, and though it's clearly fabulous pianism, I felt it didn't have the magic of Ferber. Somehow Moog seemed reductive, reducing the music to thrills about speed and piano technique. Ferber makes them sound to me like some of Debussy's best poetry.
>
>
> Here, if you don't know it.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_bU7nlX2c&ab_channel=OnTheTopofDamavandforever

Moog's version of the Debussy études is one of the least interesting I know. Ferber is good but not one of my favourites.

Henk

On 3/23/2023 2:03 PM, HT wrote:
> Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 17:59:01 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
>> I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
>>
>> I just tried to listen to Joseph Moog play the first book, and though it's clearly fabulous pianism, I felt it didn't have the magic of Ferber. Somehow Moog seemed reductive, reducing the music to thrills about speed and piano technique. Ferber makes them sound to me like some of Debussy's best poetry.
>>
>>
>> Here, if you don't know it.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_bU7nlX2c&ab_channel=OnTheTopofDamavandforever
>
> Moog's version of the Debussy études is one of the least interesting I know. Ferber is good but not one of my favourites.
>
> Henk
>
>

Prefer his Fauré.

On Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 16:59:01 UTC, Mandryka wrote:
> I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.

Ferber pulls the music about a lot, and I would hate to call that "consistent with Debussy's style" any more than pulling Chopin about represents "Chopin style". Paul Jacobs and others play the music fairly straight but with feeling and musicality. Other good ones are Gieseking, Rosen, Thibaudet, Queffelec. If you want something a bit more original there's Bonaventura. I don't think there's a perfect set of these etudes - some pianists come closer than others.

On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 6:18:48 PM UTC, Frank Berger wrote:
> On 3/23/2023 2:03 PM, HT wrote:
> > Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 17:59:01 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> >> I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
> >>
> >> I just tried to listen to Joseph Moog play the first book, and though it's clearly fabulous pianism, I felt it didn't have the magic of Ferber. Somehow Moog seemed reductive, reducing the music to thrills about speed and piano technique. Ferber makes them sound to me like some of Debussy's best poetry.
> >>
> >>
> >> Here, if you don't know it.
> >>
> >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_bU7nlX2c&ab_channel=OnTheTopofDamavandforever
> >
> > Moog's version of the Debussy études is one of the least interesting I know. Ferber is good but not one of my favourites.
> >
> > Henk
> >
> >
> Prefer his Fauré.

I think his Fauré is very good, and I felt that from the first encounter with it. I found these etudes quite disconcerting at first, but slowly they’ve gotten under my skin.

Anyone enjoy his Schubert?,

On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 6:29:56 PM UTC, Andy Evans wrote:
> On Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 16:59:01 UTC, Mandryka wrote:
> > I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
> Ferber pulls the music about a lot, and I would hate to call that "consistent with Debussy's style" any more than pulling Chopin about represents "Chopin style". Paul Jacobs and others play the music fairly straight but with feeling and musicality. Other good ones are Gieseking, Rosen, Thibaudet, Queffelec. If you want something a bit more original there's Bonaventura. I don't think there's a perfect set of these etudes - some pianists come closer than others.

Mercifully I don’t play piano well enough to notice whether the music is being pulled about. What Ferber does sounds quite natural to me.

Of those you mentioned, the only one which has caught my imagination is Bonaventura - but I can certainly see that Thibaudet is interesting and I intend to give it more time. I can do without Gieseking and Rosen myself in this music, I should need to listen again to Queffelec and Jacobs to comment - to be honest I don’t remember their recordings at all.

Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 19:18:48 UTC+1 schreef Frank Berger:
> On 3/23/2023 2:03 PM, HT wrote:
> > Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 17:59:01 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> >> I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
> >>
> >> I just tried to listen to Joseph Moog play the first book, and though it's clearly fabulous pianism, I felt it didn't have the magic of Ferber. Somehow Moog seemed reductive, reducing the music to thrills about speed and piano technique. Ferber makes them sound to me like some of Debussy's best poetry.
> >>
> >>
> >> Here, if you don't know it.
> >>
> >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_bU7nlX2c&ab_channel=OnTheTopofDamavandforever
> >
> > Moog's version of the Debussy études is one of the least interesting I know. Ferber is good but not one of my favourites.
> >
> > Henk
> >
> >
> Prefer his Fauré.

Seconded!

Henk

Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 19:40:31 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 6:29:56 PM UTC, Andy Evans wrote:
> > On Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 16:59:01 UTC, Mandryka wrote:
> > > I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
> > Ferber pulls the music about a lot, and I would hate to call that "consistent with Debussy's style" any more than pulling Chopin about represents "Chopin style". Paul Jacobs and others play the music fairly straight but with feeling and musicality. Other good ones are Gieseking, Rosen, Thibaudet, Queffelec. If you want something a bit more original there's Bonaventura. I don't think there's a perfect set of these etudes - some pianists come closer than others.
> Mercifully I don’t play piano well enough to notice whether the music is being pulled about. What Ferber does sounds quite natural to me.
>
> Of those you mentioned, the only one which has caught my imagination is Bonaventura - but I can certainly see that Thibaudet is interesting and I intend to give it more time. I can do without Gieseking and Rosen myself in this music, I should need to listen again to Queffelec and Jacobs to comment - to be honest I don’t remember their recordings at all.

Bonaventura is special. These days I'm not only a fan of Crochet's Bach but also of her Fauré. Jacobs and Queffelec are excellent - and quite a few more.

Henk

On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 7:05:53 PM UTC, HT wrote:
> Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 19:40:31 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> > On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 6:29:56 PM UTC, Andy Evans wrote:
> > > On Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 16:59:01 UTC, Mandryka wrote:
> > > > I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
> > > Ferber pulls the music about a lot, and I would hate to call that "consistent with Debussy's style" any more than pulling Chopin about represents "Chopin style". Paul Jacobs and others play the music fairly straight but with feeling and musicality. Other good ones are Gieseking, Rosen, Thibaudet, Queffelec. If you want something a bit more original there's Bonaventura. I don't think there's a perfect set of these etudes - some pianists come closer than others.
> > Mercifully I don’t play piano well enough to notice whether the music is being pulled about. What Ferber does sounds quite natural to me.
> >
> > Of those you mentioned, the only one which has caught my imagination is Bonaventura - but I can certainly see that Thibaudet is interesting and I intend to give it more time. I can do without Gieseking and Rosen myself in this music, I should need to listen again to Queffelec and Jacobs to comment - to be honest I don’t remember their recordings at all.
> Bonaventura is special. These days I'm not only a fan of Crochet's Bach but also of her Fauré. Jacobs and Queffelec are excellent - and quite a few more.
>
> Henk

What do you think of Soulima Stravinsky, Igor's son? I've only just found it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwLErZ9mXM4&ab_channel=OnTheTopofDamavandforever

On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 8:19:39 PM UTC, Mandryka wrote:
> On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 7:05:53 PM UTC, HT wrote:
> > Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 19:40:31 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> > > On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 6:29:56 PM UTC, Andy Evans wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 16:59:01 UTC, Mandryka wrote:
> > > > > I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
> > > > Ferber pulls the music about a lot, and I would hate to call that "consistent with Debussy's style" any more than pulling Chopin about represents "Chopin style". Paul Jacobs and others play the music fairly straight but with feeling and musicality. Other good ones are Gieseking, Rosen, Thibaudet, Queffelec. If you want something a bit more original there's Bonaventura. I don't think there's a perfect set of these etudes - some pianists come closer than others.
> > > Mercifully I don’t play piano well enough to notice whether the music is being pulled about. What Ferber does sounds quite natural to me..
> > >
> > > Of those you mentioned, the only one which has caught my imagination is Bonaventura - but I can certainly see that Thibaudet is interesting and I intend to give it more time. I can do without Gieseking and Rosen myself in this music, I should need to listen again to Queffelec and Jacobs to comment - to be honest I don’t remember their recordings at all.
> > Bonaventura is special. These days I'm not only a fan of Crochet's Bach but also of her Fauré. Jacobs and Queffelec are excellent - and quite a few more.
> >
> > Henk
> What do you think of Soulima Stravinsky, Igor's son? I've only just found it.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwLErZ9mXM4&ab_channel=OnTheTopofDamavandforever

Oh I now see that you said a couple of years ago that you don't like it at all. Sorry to raise a bad memory!

Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 21:19:39 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 7:05:53 PM UTC, HT wrote:
> > Op donderdag 23 maart 2023 om 19:40:31 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> > > On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 6:29:56 PM UTC, Andy Evans wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 16:59:01 UTC, Mandryka wrote:
> > > > > I've become really intrigued by this recording. Is there anyone else who makes these etudes sound so beautiful? And makes them sound so consistent with Debussy's style in other music like Preludes II.
> > > > Ferber pulls the music about a lot, and I would hate to call that "consistent with Debussy's style" any more than pulling Chopin about represents "Chopin style". Paul Jacobs and others play the music fairly straight but with feeling and musicality. Other good ones are Gieseking, Rosen, Thibaudet, Queffelec. If you want something a bit more original there's Bonaventura. I don't think there's a perfect set of these etudes - some pianists come closer than others.
> > > Mercifully I don’t play piano well enough to notice whether the music is being pulled about. What Ferber does sounds quite natural to me..
> > >
> > > Of those you mentioned, the only one which has caught my imagination is Bonaventura - but I can certainly see that Thibaudet is interesting and I intend to give it more time. I can do without Gieseking and Rosen myself in this music, I should need to listen again to Queffelec and Jacobs to comment - to be honest I don’t remember their recordings at all.
> > Bonaventura is special. These days I'm not only a fan of Crochet's Bach but also of her Fauré. Jacobs and Queffelec are excellent - and quite a few more.
> >
> > Henk
> What do you think of Soulima Stravinsky, Igor's son? I've only just found it.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwLErZ9mXM4&ab_channel=OnTheTopofDamavandforever

Iirc, it's one of the worst out there. If you are looking for a pleasant surprise, try Korstick. Like Boventura he's really different in a positive way.

Henk

> Oh I now see that you said a couple of years ago that you don't like it at all. Sorry to raise a bad memory!

No problem at all. It comes with being a Debussy études completist (who lost track of what he has or hasn't).

Henk

Anne Queffelec

Anyone heard Nina Tichman’s Debussy? (I’ve been enjoying her variations sérieuses and I’m wondering whether to take a punt on anything else from her.)

On Friday, March 24, 2023 at 10:45:36 PM UTC-7, Mandryka wrote:
>
> Anyone heard Nina Tichman’s Debussy?
> (I’ve been enjoying her variations sérieuses
> and I’m wondering whether to take a punt on
> anything else from her.)

Mendelssohn is not a reliable predictor of Debussy.

dk

Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 06:45:36 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> Anyone heard Nina Tichman’s Debussy? (I’ve been enjoying her variations sérieuses and I’m wondering whether to take a punt on anything else from her.)

She's not in my top 20 but she can certainly play the études. You should give her a try if you can find the time.

Henk

On Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 3:40:51 AM UTC-7, HT wrote:
> Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 06:45:36 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
>
> > Anyone heard Nina Tichman’s Debussy?
> > (I’ve been enjoying her variations sérieuses
> > and I’m wondering whether to take a punt on
> > anything else from her.)
>
> She's not in my top 20 but she can certainly play the
> études. You should give her a try if you can find the
> time.

Why waste one's time on someone who isn't even in
your top 20? Sounds like damning with faint praise.

dk

Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 11:46:39 UTC+1 schreef Dan Koren:

Because it wouldn't be a waste of time, if you have the time. Tichman really can play the études. It's just a matter of taste. I probably have 100 versions of the études and only really dislike Moog and Soulima Stravinsky and a few others.

Henk

On Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 10:59:35 AM UTC, HT wrote:
> Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 11:46:39 UTC+1 schreef Dan Koren:
>
> Because it wouldn't be a waste of time, if you have the time. Tichman really can play the études. It's just a matter of taste. I probably have 100 versions of the études and only really dislike Moog and Soulima Stravinsky and a few others.
>
> Henk

Cheers Henk. Is it Vol 1, this one?

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8657855--debussy-integrale-loeuvre

Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 12:38:40 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:

> Cheers Henk. Is it Vol 1, this one?
>
> https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8657855--debussy-integrale-loeuvre

Yes, it is:

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Nina-Tichman/dp/B000025SFV/ref=sr_1_10?crid=I4VNCXQ58EXO&keywords=tichman&qid=1679746638&s=music&sprefix=tichman%2Cpopular%2C74&sr=1-10

Henk

On Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 12:19:28 PM UTC, HT wrote:
> Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 12:38:40 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> > Cheers Henk. Is it Vol 1, this one?
> >
> > https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8657855--debussy-integrale-loeuvre
> Yes, it is:
>
> https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Nina-Tichman/dp/B000025SFV/ref=sr_1_10?crid=I4VNCXQ58EXO&keywords=tichman&qid=1679746638&s=music&sprefix=tichman%2Cpopular%2C74&sr=1-10
>
> Henk

Thanks, I’ve ordered a copy.

I tried the Korstick this afternoon but it seemed a little too intrusive to me, as if I was always aware of a pianist “having ideas.” And the tone didn’t appeal - I expect I’ll get more out of it another day, another mood.

More positively I’ve started to listen to Beroff on Denon, and I’m getting into it. Put it like this - if it were a concert I’d be on my feet shouting “bravo”

Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 19:10:29 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> On Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 12:19:28 PM UTC, HT wrote:
> > Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 12:38:40 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
> > > Cheers Henk. Is it Vol 1, this one?
> > >
> > > https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8657855--debussy-integrale-loeuvre
> > Yes, it is:
> >
> > https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Nina-Tichman/dp/B000025SFV/ref=sr_1_10?crid=I4VNCXQ58EXO&keywords=tichman&qid=1679746638&s=music&sprefix=tichman%2Cpopular%2C74&sr=1-10
> >
> > Henk
> Thanks, I’ve ordered a copy.
>
> I tried the Korstick this afternoon but it seemed a little too intrusive to me, as if I was always aware of a pianist “having ideas.” And the tone didn’t appeal - I expect I’ll get more out of it another day, another mood.
>
> More positively I’ve started to listen to Beroff on Denon, and I’m getting into it. Put it like this - if it were a concert I’d be on my feet shouting “bravo”

Beroff is one of the best. Did you try the early Bavouzet version?

Henk

On 2023-03-25 12:38 p.m., HT wrote:
> Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 19:10:29 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
>> On Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 12:19:28 PM UTC, HT wrote:
>>> Op zaterdag 25 maart 2023 om 12:38:40 UTC+1 schreef Mandryka:
>>>> Cheers Henk. Is it Vol 1, this one?
>>>>
>>>> https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8657855--debussy-integrale-loeuvre
>>> Yes, it is:
>>>
>>> https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Nina-Tichman/dp/B000025SFV/ref=sr_1_10?crid=I4VNCXQ58EXO&keywords=tichman&qid=1679746638&s=music&sprefix=tichman%2Cpopular%2C74&sr=1-10
>>>
>>> Henk
>> Thanks, I’ve ordered a copy.
>>
>> I tried the Korstick this afternoon but it seemed a little too intrusive to me, as if I was always aware of a pianist “having ideas.” And the tone didn’t appeal - I expect I’ll get more out of it another day, another mood.
>>
>> More positively I’ve started to listen to Beroff on Denon, and I’m getting into it. Put it like this - if it were a concert I’d be on my feet shouting “bravo”
>
> Beroff is one of the best. Did you try the early Bavouzet version?
>
> Henk

I have several versions but my favourite is Peter Frankl.

On Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 6:38:21 PM UTC, HT wrote:
Did you try the early Bavouzet version?
>
> Henk

Ah, I see I really am dealing with a completist. I'm going to have to hear that now by hook or by crook.

For all the problems with rmcr, it's still an extraordinary place.

On Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 4:07:53 PM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
>
> Anne Queffelec

This is it: https://youtu.be/Bx6ufmtUEHs

Enjoy! And stay away from Mitsuko.

dk